Inside pipe thread protector



Nov. 2, 1937. B. ENGSTROM INSIDE PIPE THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 17, 1937 INVENTOR.

WNW/56264 gm Patented Nov. 2 1937 PATENT OFFICE.

I 2,698,088 v msms ms rmmm rno'rnc'roa Birger Engstrom, Pittsburgh, Pa assignor of sixty one-hundredths to Span, Chalfant and 00., Incorporated. Pittsburgh, Pa., 2. corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 17, 1937, Serial No. 126,182

7 Claims.

This invention pertains to an improvement in pipe thread protectors and although not necessarily so limited relates more particularly to an inside protector for use in the end of an internally threaded" pipe or coupling or similar hollow article.

An object of the invention is to provide a protector of this character which is sturdy and dependable, easy to install and remove and capable of being used an unlimited number of times.

A further object is to provide a protector which can be installed and removed without the aid of any special tools and which when installed is rigidly and securely held against displacement.

These and various other objects as well as the various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein a single embodiment of the invention is illustrated; Fig. i. being a top plan View thereof; Figs. 2 and 3 enlarged sectional views taken on the line H-=-H of Fig. 4, showing respectively the protector clamped in position in the end of apipe and re 25 leased for insertion or removal; Fig. i, a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; and

. .Flg. 5, a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1 of the liner-supporting shell only of the protector. Y

1 Referring in detail to the drawing, a protector is provided which it is to be understood may be variously modified, but which as shown comprises a cup-shaped shell or sleeve I made of metal or other suitable material which constitutes the 5 body of the protector proper and which is adapted to fit with relative ease withinthe article to be protected such as an internally threaded tube 2. Such shell, as will be obvious, may be made in the form of a simple sleeve, or a sleeve provided 40 with or without a flange at its outer end and with or without its inner end closed as shown. To its outer periphery there is preferably. attached a packing liner 3 made of cork or like packing material which is connected thereto in'any suitable manner and employed to provide a cushion between the body of the protector and the threads of the tube. For securing the protector in the article being protected and for doing so in such a waythat'it will be firmly held in place while at the same time sothat it may be easily installed and removed an expansible clamping ring or band i is employed. This as shown is fitted inside the liner supporting sleeve i andis provided about its periphery with 56 a plurality of preferably uniformly circumferen- (Cl. 138-96) I j tially spaced portions in which are pressed outwardly from its normal circumference and disposed to fit within a similar number ,of similarly shaped but slightly larger openings is or yieldable sections formed in the shell I for their reception, and hence bear against the packing 3 surrounding the protector. With such a construction, by expanding the clamping band 4 the outwardly pressed portions 4a. thereof are caused to move radially outward and thereby force the portions of the packing 3 engaged thereby into gripping engagement with the adjacent surface or threads on the protected article. This locks the protector in place. but of course the degree of such gripping depends upon the extent to which 15 the band is expanded. To accomplish this erzpanding and contracting of the clamping band i a lever operated toggle connection 5 is'employed, which in its expan position forms a part of the clamping band, the ends of the latter being spaced sufliciently for this purpose. In detail this mechanism comprises a pair of hinge-like connecting sections 5 and l which are pivotally connected to each other at one end by a'pin e and similarly connected at their other ends by pins t and ii to a pair of hinge plates i2 and I3 that are welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the band 4. To one of these hinge sections, and in this instance section 6, a lever i4 is attached for opening and closing the hinge to thereby contract and expand the band 4, the lever being made a sufflcient length to permit the toggle to be readily opened or closed and curved so as to conveniently and smoothly lie against the wall of the clamping band 6 when closed. This toggle mechanism is preferably arranged midway between two of the adjacent openings la in the liner-supporting sleeve l and these openings made suihclentlylarge to accommodate the circumferential movement of the outwardly pressed portions in of the clamping band 4 when the. latter is moved from its contracted to its expanded position, and back again as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. And to assure against the clamping band 4 falling out of place it is welded or otherwise attached to the shell I at a point .spaced from. its two ends. and preferably'diametrically opposite the toggle 5 sov that such I retention will not interfere with the expansion and contraction of the bands. 7

- According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention andhave illustrated and describedwhat I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it employing a liner-supporting sleeve which is' understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A thread protector comprising a sleeve provided with a packing liner on its periphery adapted to fit within a hollow article with said liner engaging the inner surface of the article, a

split expansible clamping band provided with circumferentiaily spaced outset portions fitted within said sleeve with said outset portions operative through the sleeve over appreciable areas when said band is expanded and contracted for securing the protector to the protected article and releasing it therefrom, and means connected to the end 0! the clamping band for expanding and contracting it.

2. A thread protector according to claim 1, in which the clamping band is secured to the linersupporting sleeve at a point spaced from the two ends of the clamping band.

3. A thread protector according to claim 1, in which the liner-supporting sleeve is provided with a plurality of windows for receiving the outset portions on the clamping band.

4. A thread protector according to claim 1,

closed at its inner end and provided with an outwardly projecting flange at its outer end.

aoeaoaa 5. A thread protector according to claim 1, provided with a hinge structure pivotaliy connected to the ends of the clamping band, and a lever secured to the hinge for expanding and contracting the clamping band.

6. A thread protector according to claim 1, provided with a clamping band having a pair of pivctaliy connected sections pivotaliy connected to the ends of said band, and a lever for open-' set portions located within the aforesaid windows provided for their reception in the sleeve, a pair of pivotaliy connected hinge-like sections pivotally connected to the two ends of said band, and a lever connected to one of said hinge sections for closing and breaking the hinge formed thereby to secure and remove the protector to and from the article.

BIRGER ENGSTROM. 

